Logan Parlor (@LoganParlor, 3251 W. Fullerton Ave.) has been cutting, styling and coloring hair for Logan Square residents since July 9, 2013. The business was opened to fill a need recognized by partners Jamie DiGrazia and Tricia Serpe for a salon that educates its clients, offers gender-neutral pricing for a diverse range of services and plays an active role in its community.
Services For All
Partners in life as well as business, DiGrazia, a Redken certified stylist, and Serpe, who is trained in business, set out to create a salon space that was uniquely their own.
DiGrazia recognized how valuable the time she spent apprenticing early in her career had been for her, and she wanted to provide that opportunity to new stylists. In a week, DiGrazia currently spends four days cutting hair and one day in class with her new associates.
“I wouldn’t know anything if I didn’t put myself through something like that, so the main thing I wanted to do in this space was have that for others,” says DiGrazia.
“Educating our stylists to educate our guests is our focus,” says Serpe.
The owners’ plan for the space includes classes to teach clients how to use the styling tools they have at home to get the results they see after an appointment at the salon. They will hold their first class, BYOB (Bring Your Own Blowdryer), on May 28, during which they will raffle off a flat iron and serve complimentary wine.
In opening Logan Parlor DiGrazia and Serpe also sought to improve the way hair cutting services were offered to clients by using gender neutral pricing. Instead of charging for a men’s or women’s cut, clients are charged according to the length of their hair and the cut desired.
“I think we attract every kind of person because we have such diversity with our stylists,” says Serpe.
From beards, bangs, and barber-style cuts, to dreads and long hair, to color services such as balayage and ombre, Logan Parlor has a variety of needs covered.
“I want to do a full range of everything,” says DiGrazia.
A Salon With A Bar
Another way the partners have added value to the traditional salon experience is with the installation of a 60s-era bar at the front of the parlor. They salvaged the bar from an old establishment at Central Avenue and Milwaukee. The accompanying chairs came from the former Viaduct Theater.
“We wanted it to be really neighborhood friendly,” says Serpe.
“We encourage people to come in and just hang out,” DiGrazia says, explaining that clients will often stop in just for a coffee or to check for the cookies that usually appear up at the bar on Wednesdays. They keep a regular supply of wine and locally roasted coffee from Café Yo behind the bar.
More than a place to drop in and get a quick cut, the ladies at Logan Parlor have worked to design an enjoyable, relaxing environment that they built entirely from scratch. All of the furniture and decor that guests see in the salon was sourced from thrift stores and antique markets. The salon chairs are antiques, and Serpe herself made the shelves. The carpeting that was there when they moved into the space was ripped up and replaced with Eco Friendly Flooring that is more comfortable for the stylists, who are on their feet all day.
“The location and space is fantastic, and they’re always so welcoming and flexible,” says Becky Williams, who has lived in Logan Square for six years.
Focused On Community
With their space now complete, Serpe and DiGrazia intend to partner with other local organizations to host more events. They recently partnered with Uncharted Books (@UnchartedBooks, 2620 N. Milwaukee Ave.) to host a comedy night at the salon after connecting with clients who are involved with the bookstore’s events. According to DiGrazia and Serpe, Logan Parlor also has a lot of clients from the theatre community, and they have made a point of attending those shows when they can.
“I feel like there’s a lot of cool things we can do with the space now that things are happening and we’re really excited,” says Serpe.
A year from now, the owners hope to have expanded their hours, worked out arrangements to keep local art on display, host more events for the community and have the capacity to offer more client classes.
“What I love about Logan Parlor, besides my hair, is that it’s a place I can bring my kids,” says Mary Davenport, a Logan Square resident for seven years. “Places like Logan Parlor become the heart of neighborhoods like ours.”
Logan Parlor is open from 12 to 8 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. The salon is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
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